"Don't you need a female companion? I understand that the Duchess is unwell, but for appearances-"
"I already told you it will be fine. This banquet is for the second prince, the children will be the main focus, not me."
Anna tried her best to convince him to take her. She wanted to make her presence known in the society, what better occasion than the royal banquet where all the of the nobility congregate? There was resentment building up in her, he was being absolutely unreasonable. She was doing this for him, if he came to the banquet without a proper partner, the Emperor would be offended...
As if this wasn't enough, she had to worry about that brat telling his father everything. She had been keeping them apart successfully until now. Who knows what they would talk about when she wasn't there?